Sprinkler Phone-Booths Inside Buildings?

11/9/2021

Hi Everyone, I have now designed multiple buildings/tenant improvements where there are free standing phone booths (think London style) throughout the project. I’ve heard mixed requirements when it comes to protecting them:

They are a piece of furniture, moveable, therefor do not require sprinkler protection within. Should be protected as any other obstruction (similar to a half height partition wall)
They require sprinkler protection within the phone booth due to occupants being able to sit within them and possible storage when not in use.

Does anyone know what section of code drives this protection?

What has everyone else done before in the past?

Thank you in advance!

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16 Comments

Dan Wilder

11/9/2021 07:31:32 am

The answer is....it depends.

You will have to consult with your AHJ about the specific piece of furniture/booth/pod that is being installed and how it plays into the building. Is it truly moveable and will they be moving it or does it contain electrical, internet and/or HVAC hookups that would render it a chore to move?

There was a previous discussion concerning this with some additional insight

https://www.meyerfire.com/daily/privacy-pods-framery-o-q-q2-need-sprinklers

Even the NFPA Journal took a stab at it and was still undetermined..

https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/NFPA-Journal/2018/September-October-2018/In-Compliance/NFPA-13

Alex

11/9/2021 08:13:12 am

Hi Dan,

I missed that original blog post, thanks for sending that along. For this post in particular, its not regarding a specific project. I was curious on how everyone handles these phone booths in general.

I agree on it varying depending on the other MEPs involved.

Thank you!
Alex

Pete H

11/9/2021 07:35:40 am

For the first bullet point, in NFPA 13 2016:

8.1.1(7) - Furniture, such as portable wardrobe units, cabinets, trophy cases, and similar features not intended for occupancy, does not require sprinklers to be installed in them. This type of feature shall be permitted to be attached to the finished structure.

And it's also in NFPA 13 2019 Section 9.2.9

-

Now they specifically state features not intended for occupancy. As stated, you have people being able to sit within them, thus creating an intent for occupancy.

If it were me, it would depend on whether the phone booths are fixed in place. If they are fixed in place, then I'd put a sidewall in like a paint spray booth. If they are not fixed in place, I'd argue that

(2016 ed.)8.6.5.3.4 - Sprinklers shall not be required below obstructions that are not fixed in place, such as conference tables.

Can apply to omit protection.

-

'Take all unpaid advice with a grain of salt.'

Alex

11/9/2021 08:18:34 am

Hi Pete,

NFPA 13 8.1.1.7 is the code section I was driving at as well. In my opinion, if the object is not fixed in place, no protection should be required. I picture a tenant installing them, not liking them, and wanting to remove or relocate the booth.

Thank you!
Alex

Mike

11/9/2021 08:20:52 am

This is an AHJ interpretation. I had to add a pendant sprinkler head to each phone booth on a recent upfit even though it is considered pre-assembled furniture.

Jesse

11/9/2021 09:13:24 am

I think the best advice I could offer would be to seek a ruling from the AHJ. In the end, their requirements will drive what you do any way.

I think if there is a lack of power connection to the "booth" it would be easy to make the case they are portable.

Matt Couto

11/9/2021 09:28:47 am

As an AHJ I would not be comfortable requiring these to be protected from within.
I might get yelled at by some of the many experts we have here for this, but I think it's important to step back from the code and actually assess the hazard. Assuming they are a typical (very small, something like 36"x36") sized phone booth, the ceiling level sprinklers should provide adequate protection to prevent the spread of fire beyond the walls of said booth.
Even if you can't see this as a piece of equipment, and instead look at it as a small room, how practical is it really to install sprinklers here (and what is the risk with not installing them). I struggle to see a risk to life, which really only leaves property protection - which in my opinion is minimal.
Just my $0.02, for what it's worth.

Alex

11/10/2021 09:17:33 am

Hi Matt,

Much agreed. If you look at the issue as life safety or even property conservation, sprinklers should not be required due to the minimal risk.

Thanks,
Alex

Franck

11/9/2021 09:29:01 am

Practical point of view (not code related, not AHJ opinion as this would depend from one individual/area to the other, just the rule I apply as a loss prevention engineer for an insurance company when I meet this configuration)

When I have very small offices (your booth can be considered as a very small office), such as a small office at a receiving area in a warehouse, in a sprinkler protected building, I may not require sprinkler inside them if the ceiling sprinkler protection is not fully obstructed by the "office", the content in the office is not critical for the process, there is no hazardous occupancy (no flammable liquids, for example), and the area occupied by the office is not greater than 100 sq ft.

Why 100 sq ft ? Because this is the footprint of a sprinkler.
If the inside of your office burn, it will burn inside and whan it will goes out, the fire footpring would be 100 sq ft maximum. This is normally controlled by one sprinkler (if located just below a sprinkler) to 4 sprinklers (if located between 4 sprinklers).
This is acceptable as the fire will be controlled anyway over your design area that is normally calculated to 1500 sq ft minimum (2500 sq ft for extra hazard occupancy).

This "rule of thumb" avoid providind sprinklers in areas where you always ask yourself : is it really necessary ?

If you do provide sprinklers anyway, I strongly suggest (is the AHJ allows it) to provide a valve at the connection of the supply pipe. That way, if you remove your booth, you just need to isolate the valve foe the sprinkler inside your booth, not the entire sprinkler system of your building.

Note that if you have several "offices" or booths very close to each other, then you may exceed the 100 sq ft "rule of thumb" I was refering and I may require for sprinkler protection, even though each individual room is less than 100 sq ft.

Alex

11/10/2021 09:19:34 am

Hi Frank,

I like your idea of providing an isolation valve incase of future floor plan revisions (removing or moving the booths).

Alex

M King

11/9/2021 10:47:35 am

I read all the comments with interest. I add that the idea of a sprinkler discharge in a small enclosed space with an occupant present ( potentially) might need to be looked at from a life safety perspective as well.

Jay

11/9/2021 11:11:09 am

See 2022 edition of NFPA 13.
9.2.10 Small Temporarily Occupied Enclosures.

9.2.10.1 *

Sprinklers shall not be required in small isolated temporarily occupied enclosures that do not extend to the ceiling.

9.2.10.2

The maximum area of the small temporarily occupied enclosures shall not exceed 24 ft2 (2.2 m2), and storage shall not be permitted

And associated Annex A material that references phone booths.

Alex

11/10/2021 09:15:36 am

Hi Jay,

I haven't had a chance to flip through NFPA 13 (2022). Glad to see they are discussing this issue. Thanks for this!

Alex

Kelley Stalder link

12/29/2021 10:49:08 am

Was this addition made to accommodate the "cocoon" structures in cubicle offices? My guess is that that is why the 24 sq. ft. number was used because that happens to be the exact size. I often run into this problem in medical facilities with sound proof rooms for sleep studies and sometimes for hearing testing. They may not extend to the ceiling but they are always more than 24 sq. ft.

SCHULMAN

11/10/2021 10:34:18 am

chiming in to thank you MATT COUTO...
i was thinking this way too, and as a system designer (not AHJ) it is appreciated that logic wins sometimes.
was actually surprised at how many of us jumped on "put a sprinkler in it" ...
i can only imagine telling an owner and an architect that there will be a 1" sprinkler pipe from the beautiful open ceiling dropping through their high-style interior so I can out a fire out in a phone booth.

Richard Mills

11/11/2021 10:19:36 am

The comments on this make me think the question could be used to weed out irritable AHJ syndrome, and the associated dollar losses imposed on businesses. But seriously (because it borders on funny), if the mothership sprinklers are adequate, it can stay. If not, modify, remove, or add an ugly pipe and sprinkler head.

Sprinkler Phone-Booths Inside Buildings?

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